Sofa-bed.



H. D. BARTLETT.

SOFA'BED. APPLicATloN FILED MAY24. |915.

Patented Mar. 11, y1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Mib@

H. D. BARTLETT.

SOFA BED.

APPucA'TloN mso MAY 24. |915.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

wtzesjses:

H. D. BARTLETT.

sor/I BEI). APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. |915.

Patented Mar. 11, 19194 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- wz' in eases fiar/en or Farra sraans HARRY D. BARTLETT, OF DELAVAN, ISCONSIN, ASSGNR TO PULLMAN COUCH CMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F LLNOIS.

SOFA-BEE.

To all whom t may concern:

' Be it known that I, HARRY D. BAnTLnTT, a citizen of the United States of America,

.and a resident of Dela fan, county of `Wal worth, and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sofa-Beds, of'whicli the following is a specification.

This invention relates' to convertible furniture of the class in which 'a oldable bedbottom is concealed normally in retracted position, and in which the bed member is movable extensibly by one motion to its bed position.

The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of sofa bed of the character stated. in which a full length bed bottom, extensible crossivise of the sofav frame, maybe folded beneath the seat in such manner as to carry the bedding in made-up form; to provide such a device in which the' bed bottom and seat are combined for .folding compactl'y and locking in a unitary manner for demounting from the sofa frime; to provide'a foldable device of the characterL stated'adapted for mounting in a frame of substantially the usual shape and size; to provid-e a bed bottom winch vifhenvfolded forms a storage receptacle oilA greater size than usual in sofa.l beds, and is adapted to accommodate a mattressl of the yusual thickness, together with all bedding required -in av made-up bed;A to provide a bed bottom which when folded incloses the bedding on the top, bottom. rear and front sides; to provide improved automatic leg folding means, and to provide a sofa bed having the foregoing; features which is so balanced mechanically as to 'be easily operata-ble with one hand.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a plan showing one side of the l device in its bed position. Fig'. 2 isa side vlew of the bed bottom and seat inA their sofa position but-removed from the .sofa frame.

Fig. '3 is a side view of the device in its Specication ouf Letters Patent.

ratei-atea atar. it. ieee.

Application filed May 24, 1915. Serial No. 39,074.

ber in the sofaA trame, the frame end being removed.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of. the sofa back.

Fig'. G is an enlarged fragmentary end View of the automatic leg control mechanism with the leg extended.'

Fig. I is an enlarged cross-section of the lock for securing the dcmountable member 1n place on the soiay frame.

Fig. 8 is a side view et the coacting bed bottom and seat removed from the soay frame and swung' part way to their hed position. j

Fig. 9 is a sido view of a modified form oi the demountable member removed from the sofa frame.

Fig. lO is a plan of one corner of the foot section showing a modilied form of automatic leg control means.

Fig. ll a tramnentary end view of the foot section showingr a front elevation of the modified Form of leg' control means.

ln the construction shown in Figs. l to 8 inclusive, the device comprises asofai'ramc l having* ends 2 and connecting' members 3, in combination with a back 4i and a demonntable member 5 including; a seat 6, a foldable bed bottom '7. and supporting means 8. The back +L is mounted turn-ably on the frame l forswinging` rearwardly so as to malte head room tor the bed when the device is unfolded. Said supporting means 8 comprises lifting` mechanism 9 and a trame having' side bars l0 to which said mechanism is attached and cross bars ll holding said bars in spaced relation. The seat G is carried by the bed bottoni 7. Bars l2 are attached to the frame ends 2 for coaetion with said bars l0, to support the member 5 dcmountably.

The bed bottom comprises a series of seetions. preferably four, arranged to fold to inclose the bedding on its top, bottom, front and rear sides, and includes a short head section l5, a main section 16, a connecting section 17 and a foot section 18 connected turnably at their adjacent edges respectively, as at 20, Q1 and 22. The bed bottom joints for section 17 are formed to limit the openingto 180 degrees, said joints in this respect beingn of the nature of rule joints. The hea-d section joint is preferably formed likewise. The joints 2l and 22 are formed to limit closing. to about 90'degrees, for

j which purpose shoulders 23 may be provided llike, attached to the frame members of the sections, as illustrated in Fig. l. A spacing bar 25 is provided for the foot section and is pivoted thereto near the joint 22 but preferably spaced therefrom as at 26. Another spacing bar 27 is provided for the main section 1'6 and is preferably located at the joint 2l. Said spacing bars are bent to give clearance for the bed spring 24.

The seat member G comprises a :trame 29 formed to give clearance for the bed spring, and upholstered part 30 and a front panel 3l substantially integral and rigid with the frame 29. The rear part of the scat .s mounted slidably on the foot section as by means of a bracket 32 having a shoulder `pivoted to the main sectio at or adjacent to the joint 20. Thefron* link 59 is pivoted at its upper .end to the medial part of the main section, as .at 60,"adjacent to means are provided on each end of the main section 16, preferably in the form of plates 68' each having a cam slot 69.

An operating lever 7l has a shoulder 73 intermediately of its ends formed for coaction with said guide, said shoulder preferably beingin the form of a headed pivot or stud, fitting in said cam slot 69. The

33 formed to coact with a longitudinal slot lower end of the operating lever is connect- 3l in the side rail of the foot section. The

front of the seat is secured to the bed bottom by means of a bracket 3.7 on the'lower part of panel 3l, which bracket is provided with a, shoulder 38A arranged to coact with a slotted link a() pivoted to the bed bottom, preferably at the joint 21. A brace 43 is secured at its ends to the seat frame and the lower part of said panel 3l.

The back 4 comprises a frame 45 with upholstering lthereon, said frame being 'swing ably connected to, the' upper part ofthe sofa frame, by means of hinges 46 secured to the top crossbar 3, the lower part of the back being swung fprward normally to its sofa position where held by-lock means or latches 47. Upon releasing said latches the back is swung by gravity to a retracted position so as to increase the head room for the bed. Said latches t7 are of an autoinatic character, preferably having springs 48 normally urging a plunger 49 carried on theback into engagement with one of the frame ends 2 formed to receive the saine when the back is swung forward. lVhcn retracted the lower part ot' the back may rest against one of the cross members 3,.

Manual means are provided fol' retracting the plungcrs, as for instance a handle 50 ad y jacent to the upper edge of the back and connected to each of said plungers, as by means of a cord or chain 5l. held in "is pivot-ed at its lower end to a medial part of the bar wad-jacent toits rear end, as

'at the point where the rear cross-bar l1 is attached. The upper end ot' link 56 is etl by means of a link 75 to a medial part of thel'rear link 56, as at 77, and the upper end is connected by a link 79 to a medial part of the foot section adjacent to its rear edge, preferably at 26.

A toggle actuating link 82 has one end connected to the coacting ends of said toggle links, and the other end to a medial part of the operating lever, preferably at the point where the cam-engaging shoulder 73 is located.

The link 75 has a longitudinal slot 84 at one end so as to provide for limited independent movement of the operating` lever with respect thereto. Because of such freedom of movement the section joint 22 is the first to straighten in unfolding the bed, and is the irst""to fold in restoring to sofa form. The length of slot 8l determines the relative position of ythe foot section tothe othersections in unfolding, and by adjusting. the length. and position of said slot when the device isI made and assembled, the

vproper balancing of the movable parts may part of the operation in vwhich the bed bottom is nearlyfolded, as shown in Fig. 2, the link 75 at such time having no effect. Each cani plate (38 is secured at its ends to the side rail of the main section 16 and is spaced v therefrom soii'icwliat so as to provide clearance for the coacting shoulder 73 of the operating lever.

Yielding means are arranged for urging the bed bottom upward to 'its bed position, said means preferably comprising a set of four coiled springs 87 disposed Yupon the is provided on the rear end of each mounting f bar for guiding and supporting the rear part of the head section in folding and un-` folding the bed bottom. plate-11k@ and is provided with diagonal slot 92 termi .ating at the top with a horiffzontal shoulder 93 on which the head section restsr in its bed position. Each side railot' the head section has a longitudinal slot at 95, and a pivot-like bolt or stud 96 slidable in said slots secures the head section to the cam. legs in operative relation.

` The member 15, preferably formed as a bed section, serves as a link connecting the main section 1G and the upright 90, and limits the forward swing oli the bed bottom when raisedto its bed position.

Stop means are provided on one f the end sections for arresting the Jolding movement of the bed bottoi Said means include shoulders 98 on the rear part of the head section. The stops 98 project forward so as to receive and support the foot rail when the device is folded.

An automatic lock is provided for securn ing the sections in folded relatiomsaid look comprising a sliding bar 100 disposed transverse-ly of the foot section on its under side adjacent to the foot rail. Yielding means 101 urge the sliding bar into engagement with the upriglits 90, each of which is provided with a shoulder 102 formed by cutting a notch in the adjacent edge of the plate constituting the upright. Said bar 100 is provided with a handle 105 arranged to be ripped by the operator for releasing the lock and for swinging the foot section .to

' its bed position. Said bar slides downwardly ris prov1ded on each side of thefoot against the adjacent edge oi' each upright 90, in folding the bed, so as to operate automatically for locking the sections together.

Automatic legs 107 support the seat 6 and foot section 18 in their bed position. The rear upper corner of the seat frame is beveled and the legs are pivoted thereto. Each leg is angled at its upper end and connections are provided for controlling the legs by the somewhat divergent movement of the beveled edge of the seat frame with respect t0 the foot vsection in folding the bed bottom, as shown in Fig. 3.

A lug 109 preferably in the form of a plate section 'for sliding longitudinally of the ladjacent .Slot 34, said plate having shoulder means 110 to engage said slot. The plates 109 are connected by a cross bar 112 to which the short arm 113 on eachleg is connected by means ofa link 115 attached somewhat loosely to Said cani leg is the short arm of the leg. Said link is connected more or less loosely7 so` as to accommodate the swinging olf the leg as will be understood. ln folding the bed. the leg is pulled up into folded position by the link 115, while in unfolding the bed the leg is released and permitted to swing downward by gravity, assisted' more or less by'the action of said link.

The coacting rails 12 and 10 ofthe soia frame 1 and demountable part 5 respectively, are angular in shape each with one flange disposed vertically and the other disposed horizontally and resting slidably one upon the other as shown in Fig. 7. Locking means are provided for securing the rails 10 in position, comprising a stud 117 carried by ayielding member preferably in the forni of a. leaf spring 113, the coacting rail flanges being perforated to register when assembled. This lock is arraiiged for manual control to release the demountablc part Release means preferably in the iorm of a rotary cam 120 is provided with a handle 121 arranged for convenient turning by the operator to withdraw the stud 117.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 1l, a modified construction is shown in which the shoulder 125 on the operating lever 126 travels in a guide slot 127 in the side rail of guide such as shown in Fig. ln this instance the lower part of' the operating lever is connected to the rear leg-link l130 by means of a chain 131. and the automatic legs 133 for the foot section 134 are secured directly to the foot rail 13,5. Guides 13G preferably in the form oi angle bars are provided on the link 130 and bar 10 against which the lower end o1 the operating lever 120 reacts at times, as when the bed begins to unfold. A series of' links is provided, connecting each leg 133 with the adjacent part of the seat frame 137, whereby the longitudinal movement of the seat frame on the foot Section 134 serves to control the legs. One of said links-138-is connected turna-bly to the adjacent edge of the seat frame, and the other end is guided by a slot in the side rail of the 'foot section. Pivoted to link 138 is a diagonally disposed link 139 the outer end of which is' guided by a slot inthe foot rail. Another link, 141, to which link 139 is pivoted, is mounted slidably on the foot rail. A link 143 has one end pivoted to the adjacent leg 133 and the other to a bracket 144 on link 141. y

The diagonal link 139 is further guided by a link 146 pivoted at one end to the medial part of link 139 and at its other end to the corner part of the foot section.

the mainv section 129 insteadl of in a cam In this instance the bars 147 for thelifting v from a sofa to a bed consists in first releasing the back by pulling on the handle 50,'

and then swinging the foot section upward and forward to its bed position by pulling on the handle 105, the lock for securing the Section in folded relationbeing released automatically by the initial pull on the latter handle. The device is converted from a bed to a sofa by an operation substantially the reverse, consisting in lifting the foot section and swinging it backward and downward to its sofa position, and then restoring the back to its normal forward position. p

The action of the different parts .in un. folding the bed bottom. as illustrated in the preferred form, is substantially as follows: The initial turning of the foot section on its pivot 22 actuates the operating lever 71 by pulling on the link 79, and the operating lever in turning reacts against the roller 85 and by pushing on the link 82 tends to urge the toggle links into alineinent. As the operation continues the. shoulder 7 3 on the operating lever travels forward in the guide slot 69 and the leg-links 5d and 5S) swing upwardly. As soon as the operating lever` and the link 56 have swung through a sutlicient angle to bring the l'ink 75 into compression, the roller 85 becomes inoperative and lever- 71 reacts against link 7 5 instead. Vhen the bed bottom is entirely unfolded the toggle links swing somewhat past the point of alinement so as to lock and constitute a rigid support forthe section 17. As the foot section swings downward to itsbed position the seat swings away somewhat by gravity, the pivot 38 sliding to the lower end of the links 40, and the shoulder 33 sliding inward along the slot 34 of the foot section. As the sections unfold, the foot section 18 swings into alinement with section 17 after which the remaining sections swing into alinement. The head section rides upwzlrdly 4between the cam legs 90, and the lower part swings forward, bringing the head section into alinement with the main section. As the seat swings to an angle with the foot section and slides away from the foot rail, the lugs'109 slide inwardly and the links 115 permit and assist the legs 107 to swing down to their supporting position.

In folding thc bed bottom, the parts opcrate as fdllows: to an angle of 90 degrees with the adjacent section 17, and in so doing pushes the link 79 inward, thereby giving initial movement to the operating lever which swings so as to bring tension on thel link 75. As the operation continues, the stud 73 travels rearwardly and thc toggle links are retracted by tension of the bar 82. The rear pai-tof the head section firstl slides backward somcwhat and upward as the front part swings downward, and finally slides bodily downward to its folded upright position. As thc The foot section swings device'folds, the seat swings downward and backward by gravity upon the folded sections. As the foot section swings into place the locking bar 100 entersthe'notc'fhesin the upright 90. The moyement of the` seat 4on the foot section causes 'thel links 115 to pull up the legs 107 to their foldted position across the beveled rear corner oflthe seat.

In the modified form the mbvement of the seat on the foot section in unfolding pulls the leg control links 138, 135% and 141 in such mann'er as to unfold the legs, and in'folding the bed bottom the reverse move ment pushes said links in such manner as to swing the legs upward against the foot rail.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown, itis to be understood that no attempt has'ben made to show specifically all useful embodiments, and that some of the details of the constructions shown may be alteredl or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device ofthe character described, a supporting frame, a bed bottom foldable with the bedding in made-u i form to a substantially rectangular parallelogram shape mounted thereon comprising a pair of long sections disposed oppositely and spaced apart from each other, a short section connecting two adjacent edges of said long sections, another short section disposed oppositely from the connecting section and joined turnably to one of'said long sections, means for locking'said sectionsln folded relation including upright means on said frame overlapping the edges of said long sections adjacent to theirk divergently movable edges and embracing the last 1nentioned section when folded, and manually operatable means carried by one of said long sections for relcasably engagingl said over-A legs.

3'. A sofa bed comprising a frame in combination with a foldable sectional bed bottom, a scat member carried by said bed bottom, a part of said seat being connected in slidable and turnable relation with one of thebed sections, foldingJ legs carried by saidy seat, connections for said legs operatable by the relative movement of said seat and said section for controlling said lt gs, said connections comprising a pair of lugs movable f longitudinally on the side rails of said secseat and said section for controlling said Legame tion, a bar disposed transversely oi the bed bottom and carried by said. lugs, and links connecting said legs respectively to said bar.

et. A. device of the class described, comprisinga. foldable series of bed bottom scctions in combination with a rigid yframe, links turnably connected to said trame for suinging forwardly and upwardly one belifd another at each side of said series, saidseries including a main section, and said links being turnably connected to said section adjacent to their free ends, and a member turnably connected vto said section and a rigid part of said frame for positively limiting the forward swing of said links, which said member may serve also as a bed sectiono 5. .A device of the class. described comprising a foldable sectional bed bottom, in combination, with a rigid frame, links turnably connected to said trame -:tor swinging forwardly and upwardly lone behind another at each side oit the bed bot-tom, said bed bottom including a main sectionand said links being turnablj7 connected to said section adjacent to their tree ends, one o" said sections being turna-bly connected to said section and CII a rigid part of said frame tor limiting the forward swing ola said links, a toggle device connecting the next forwardly disposed section andsaid frame, a lever having a medial shoulder. coacting slidably with said main section, a link coi'inecting said lever and the adjacent endsfot'ithe toggle members, a link connecting one end of said lever and the foot section, and means limiting the movement of the other end of said lever.

G. A oldable sectional bed bottom, in combination with a iframe having a horizontal part and an upright part adjacent to one edge, links for bodily swinging one ot the sections upwa 'dly from said horizontal part and away from said upright rart, and another of the sections, adjoining said section, being disposed uprightly beside said upright part, and coimecting means attached slidably to both said upright part and the upright section, said sections being swingable upwardly into alinement.

7. A .t'oldable sectional bed bottom, in coinbination with a frame having a .horizontal partand an upright part adjacent to one edge, links i'or bodily swinging; one ot the sections upwardly from said horizontal part and away 'from said upright j' art, and another f t the sections, adjoining said section, beingl disposed uprightly beside said upright part, and connecting means attached slidably to both said Upright part and the upright section, said sections being swingable. up-

wardly into alinemont, said upright part and the coacting section having longitudinal slots for the connecting means, the frame slot being inclined upwardly and forwardly.

ln a sofa bed, a demonntable member comprising a rectangular frame having upright means at one edge, in combination with a A'ectional bed bottom foldable upon said frame, links connecting said frame and bed bottom arranged for swinging' the latter to and from its bed position, a latch carried by one of the sections for securing the bed sections in folded relation, said u'prifrht means being notched to receive said latch, and yieldingnneans urging said latch into engagement with the notched member when the bed bottom is folded.

9. 1n a device of the class described, a foldable sectional bed bottom, in combination with a frame, front and' rear inks connecting said iframe and one of the bed sections, a lever having a medial part mounted slidabi)r on said section, toggle links connecting said frame and another section adjacent toy the first mentioned section, a link connecting the adjoining ends ofsaid toggle links and a media-l part of said lever, 'a\link connecting one end of said lever and a third section adjacent to the i'st mentioned section, a link connecting the adjoining ends of said toggle links and a medial part of said lever,ia link connecting one end/ot' said lever and a third section adjacent to the second mentioned section` bearing means for the opposite end of said lever, .said/frame having an upright disposed at the other side of the irstmentioned section from* the second mentioned section, and said bed bottom including means connecting said upright and said first mentioned section. l1. In a device of the class described, av foldable sectional bed bottom, in combina* tion with a frame, front and rear links connecting said frame and one of the bed Sections, a lever havinga medial part mounted ,slidably on said section, toggle links connecting said frame and another section adjacent to the first mentioned section, a link connecting the adjoining ends of said toggle links and a medial part ot said lever, a link connecting one end of said lever and a third Y riectin'g' seid frame and one of the bed sections, e level` having a medial partmounted slidably on said section, toggle links conmeeting Seid frame and :mother section adjacent to the first mentioned section, a link connecting the adjoining` ends of seid toggle linke` md n. medial part of Said lever, e link connecting one end of said level` and a third Section adjacent to the second mentioned I section, and e bearingm'einber onvsad freine for the ndpicent end of sind lever, said bearing and the last mentioned link being opere-y HARRY D. BARTLETT. 

